Photocell controlled anti-ejection circuit for an article handling apparatus



May 25, 1965 A. DEMILIO PHOTOCELL CONTROLLED ANTI-EJECTION CIRCUIT FORAN ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 29, 1962 HOV. AC 0 HOV. DC

1 INVENTOR.

. ARMANI) D'EMIUO AGENT United States Patent 3,185,851 PHOTGCELLCQNTRQLLED ANTl-EJECTION CIRCUIT FQR AN ARTICLE HANDLKNG APPARATUSArmand DEmiiio, Holmes, Pa, assignor to Brewer Pharmacal EngineeringCorporation, Upper Darby, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June29, 1962, Ser. No. 206,471 Claims. (Cl. 250-423) The inventionhereinafter described and claimed relates to electrical controlcircuits. More specifically however, it has to do with electricalcontrol circuits having electrical anti-jam means for use with chutes ofarticle storage and issuing apparatus wherein the chute is adapted toreceive articles at one point and deliver them to another, and as aresult thereof to actuate associated apparatus.

While of broader applicability the invention is particularly adapted foruse in the control of apparatus such as shown and described in theco-pending application entitled Inventory Control System and ApparatusSerial No. 162,630, filed December 12, 1961, in the names of Frederic T.C. Brewer, Jt illiam A. White and Walter E. Colburn, and the inventionshown and described in the co-pending application entitled ArticleDelivery Chute Serial No. 188,679, filed April 19, 1962 in the name ofGerard A. Nash, and both assigned to the assignee of the presentinvention.

The apparatus of the Brewer et al. application is cyclically operable,after a plurality of pro-operative conditions have been satisfied, toissue or deliver a pre-selected of a plurality of different articlesfrom a locked storage area in a cabinet through a chute (as morespecifically disclosed in the Naab application) to a point of accessfrom the exterior thereof. Passage of the article through the chuteinterrupts a sensing circuit thus to initiate operation of a recordingdevice to make a record of the article delivery.

Unfortunately, however, chutes of this type are subject to stuffing.That is, blocking of the chute with a foreign object, such as weddedpaper or cloth, inserted in the chute above the sensing means beforeinitiating a cycle of operation thus to prevent the record being madeupon issuance of an article which would be stopped by the stufingmaterial before passing through the sensing means, then, after the cycleis completed, removing the stuffing and appropriating-or stealing-thearticle.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide electricalcontrol circuitry for article handling apparatus having as a featurethereof means to overcome the above-mentioned stu'fi'ing problem inchutes.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide improvedelectrical circuitry capable of sensing the jamming of a chute toprevent passage therethrough of articles, and thereby, in response tosuch condition, prevent operation of associated article issuingapparatus.

In accordance with the above objects and first briefly described theinvention comprises electrical circuitry for effecting operation ofarticle handling apparatus having a plurality of pro-operativeconditions which must be met before effecting delivery of an articleinto a chute through which the article passes to a point of access. Thearticle delivery chute has separated article receiving and deliveryopenings whereby an article entering the receiving opening will passthrough the chute to the delivery opening. Between the openings, thechute is provided with circuit means for sensing the passage of thearticle through the chute and responsive thereto to effect actuation ofassociated apparatus, such as a recorder. Between the receiving openingof the chute and the sensing means, antija-m circuit means is providedto detect stuffing of the 3,l35,85l Fatented May 25, 1965 chute, and inthe presence thereof to prevent actuation of the issuing apparatus andthereby foil illicit operation of the apparatus.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description of the preferred embodiment of the inventionwhen taken with the accompanying schematic drawing.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a schematic of thepreferred embodiment of the invention.

While obviously of broader applicability, the invention is shown, by wayof example, as it would be incorporated in the chute It) of an articleissuing apparatus, such as disclosed in the above mentioned co-pendingapplications, to which reference may be had, if desired, for structuraldetails unimportant to an understanding of the present invention.Briefly, however, and as shown fragmentarily on the accompanyingschematic, the apparatus comprises a cabinet (not shown) for housing ina locked compartment, a plurality of articles 12, such as drug packages,in separate bins 1 4, such as shown and described in the co-pendingapplication of Richard I. Kester, entitled Article Storing and IssuingApparatus, Serial No. 187,- 636, filed April 16, 1962, now abandoned,and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The bins have anejection mechanism 15 operated by a solenoid 18.

To obtain issuance of a particular article in the mechanism of theBrewer et al. application, certain preliminary conditions must be metbefore the solenoid 18 can be activated. First, a door 2d must beopened, simultaneously therewith closing switch 21 and exposing to theoperator a drug selection console 22 (shown at bottom of drawing)removably housing a plurality of key plates 24 (only two of which areshown) in slots 24A, each plate having indicia identifying the articlesstored in a particular bin. As described in the aforesaid Brewer et al.application a bin is selected for activation by Withdrawal of itscorresponding identification key plate 24 from its slot thus closing itsassociated switch 25. Means 26 forming the subject matter of theco-pending application entitled Electrical Circuit, Serial No. 189,637,filed April 23, 1962, in the names of Richard E. Wiley and assigned tothe assignee of the present invention, prevents operation of theapparatus if more than one plate 24 is removed from the console.

As seen along the central right hand edge of the schematic, the plate24, along with a customer identifying key plate 27 and anoperator-identifying key plate 28, is inserted in the shuttle 30 of acharge recorder 3-1 to close associated normally open switches 3-2, 34and 36. If the charge recorder contains a suflicient quantity of recordtape 4%, shown just above the shuttle, another normally open switch 42is closed. If the article sensing and the anti-jam portion of thecircuits, now to be described, are energized, as described later,switches 44 and 46 also will be closed, thus to complete the binactuating circuit means, generally identified by the numeral 47exceptfor closure of start switch 4 8. Closure of the start switch, which islocated on the console 22, now will actuate the selected bin 14 to issueor project an article or package 12 into the article receiving opening50 of the chute 10.

The circuit 47 can be traced from the v. AC.

source at the upper left of the schematic, through door switch 21, tapeswitch 52, shuttle switches 36, 34 and 32, anti-jam switch '44, detectoror article sensing switch 46, start switch 48, error circuit 26, andarticle plate switch 25 to the bin actuating solenoid coil 18.

The chute is provided with article sensing means comprising anelectro-optical circuit means 52 for sensing or detecting the passage ofan article therethrough, and coincidental therewith initiating operationof the charge recorder 31 to make a record of the transaction, all asmore fully described in the above mentioned co-pending application ofBrewer et al. The sensing circuit means comprises a radiant energyexciter or lamp 54, and optical mean (not shown) for directing a beam oflight 58 from lamp 54 back and forth across the chute to a photoopticaldevice, such as photo-resistor 56, preferably in parallel pathsvertically displaced in equal increments less than the minimum majordimension of any package issued from the bins, thus to assure detectionof an article passing through the chute. The optical means provided forthis purpose may be a series of lens and prisms, such as shown anddescribed in the above identified Naab application. Further details ofthe sensing circuit means for controlling operation of the articleissuing bin mechanism and the recorder in a system such as disclosed inthe Brewer et al. application, are described below.

As mentioned before, chutes of this kind are subject to stutfing, thatis, some object, such as a Wad of paper or cloth, may be insertedthrough the access opening 69 and upwardly through the chute past thebeam 58 and into the area 62, thus to intercept a package prior to itspassing through the beam 58 and hold it in this area until a cycle ofthe machine is completed, after which the stufiing is removed and thepackage appropriated without a record of the transaction being made bythe recorder 32.

In particular accordance with an important feature of the presentinvention the means to prevent such stuffing comprises a source ofradiant energy, preferably such as light bulbs 64 and 66, and means,such as lens 68, arranged to project their beams in paths 70 and 72across the chute to' associated ray sensitive devices, such asphoto-resistors 74 and 76.

The photo-resistors are connected in series to the base of a PNPamplifying type of transistor78, the emitter and collector electrodes 80and 82 which are connetced to a minus voltage 84, of approximately 25 v.in this embodiment, through a resistor 86 having a value of 3.3K ohms,and a relay 88. The relay is operatively connected to the normally openswitch 44 in the bin circuit 47-or other associated apparatus to becontrolled. A resistor 90 of 30K ohms has one end connected to the linebetween the photo-resistor 76 and the base of transistor 78, and itsother end to +110 V. DC.

Lamps 54, 64 and 66 from which light normally impinges uponphoto-resistors 56, 74 and 76, respectively, are energized by means of a6 v. secondary circuit 92 which receives its energy through atransformer T from a 110 V. AC. line. If desired, a voltage droppingresistor of ohms may be provided in the sub-circuit to extend the lifeof lamps 64 and 66. While circuit 92 may be closed in other suitableways, in the present case closure is effected by means of a normallyopen switch 94, actuation of which is by a relay 96 which gets itsenergy from the 110 V. AC. supply upon closing of door switch 21.

In operation under normal conditionsthat is, with no foreign object inthe chute to prevent an ejected article from passing completely throughthe chute to the article delivery opening .60-light from lamps 64 and 66impinges upon photo-resistors 74 and 76 dropping their combinedresistance to a maximum of 100K ohms, and the current through thephoto-resistors to the low impedence side of the transistor is 0.5 ma.However, the 30K ohm resistor 90 will bleed off, or subtract 0.33 ma.leaving only 0.17 ma. to reach the transistor. This latter current (0.17ma.) multiplied by the amplification factor of the transistor (-aminimum of 40) gives a current of 6.8 ma.

which is sufficient to energize relay 88 to close switch 44. Now, iflight from either or both of the lamps 64 and 66 is prevented fromimpinging upon its companion photo-resistor for a sufficient length oftime, such as by jamming of the chute, their total series resistancebecomes greater than 500K ohms and the current through them, by reasonof the current through resistor 90 and the leakage current through thetransistor, becomes less than 0.1 ma. The base of the transistor thusbecomes more positive cutting off the current to relay 8 8 which dropsout, opening switch 44 to cut the power in circuit 47 and thu preventoperation of the bins, or other associated apparatus.

The article sensing portion of the circuit comprises the photo-resistor56 in series circuit with a PNP amplifying type transistor 98 and asensitive, fast acting relay 100, with a base resistor 102 of 30K ohmsvalue from at +65 v. supply, and a second relay104 controlled by relay100 through a normally open switch 106 from a V. DC. supply. Switch 46in circuit 47 is operatively connected to relay 1.04 and, as mentionedabove, cooperates with other switches to control operation of theassociated equipment.

In operation, light from lamp 54 traverses the chute back and forth 'toimpinge upon photo-resistor 56 causing its resistance to drop to amaximum of 62K ohms. This tries to drive 900 a. through the base oftransistor 98. However, the resistor 102 bleeds it of 330 ,aa. leavingonly 570 ,ua. which turns the transistor off. The beta times 570 ,ua.results in a minimum of two milliamps through relay 160 to energize itand thus energize relay 104 by closing switch 106.

If light beam 58 is broken, as by an article passing through the chute,the photo-resistor 56 momentarily is darkened and its resistance risesto 400K ohms. This permits ,wa. to balance the 330 a. from the 30K ohmresistor 102, back biasing the transistor 98 causing the relay 100 tobecome de-energized opening switch 106 to de-energize relay 104 thus toclose switch 77 in line 110 to the recorder, and open switch 46 incircuit 47 to prevent further operation of the bins until completion ofthe recorder cycle. Line 110 is connected to the 110 V. AC. source byconnection (not shown) of its terminal X with circuit 47 at its terminalX shown just to the right of door switch 21. Other means, not importanthere, are used to hold the circuit closed for one cycle of operation ofthe recorder and then shut it off. Reference may be had to theabove-identified co-pending application of Brewer et -al. for suchdetails. Relay 88 in the anti-jam circuit is slow acting, therefore anarticle pass ing through the beams 70 and 72 will have no effect onnormal operation of the apparatus.

Having now described the preferred form of the invention it is clearthat it provides a control circuit for article delivering apparatushaving the attributes and fea tures set forth at the beginning of thisspecification.

What is claimed is:

1. In electrically. operative article ejecting and handling apparatusoperable to eject an article into and to pass it through a chute fromone point to another:

(A) an electrical control circuit for connecting said apparatus to asource of electricity;

(B) a first sensing means positioned between said points in the chute tosense an article as it passes along its path of movement through thechute and responsive thereto to actuate associated apparatus; and

(C) a second sensing means positioned between said one point and saidfirst sensing means to sense material placed in the path of movement ofsaid article to prevent the article from passing through said firstsensing means during a cycle of operation, and up erable in the presenceof such material in the path of movement to render the article handl ngapparatus inoperable until the material is removed;

(D) said second sensing means having means to delay its operation for aperiod of time normally to permit the said article to pass therebywithout rendering said apparatus inoperable.

2. An electrical control circuit for article ejecting and handlingapparatus cyclically operable to eject an article into a chute throughwhich it passes by force of gravity from one portion to another,comprising:

(A) means for connecting said article ejecting apparatus to a source ofelectricity comprising,

('1) an electrical conductor, and (2) a plurality of first switchesseries connected (3) a normally open start switch for effecting finalclosure of said circuit to actuate said article ejecting means tointroduce an article into said chute,

in said conductor; 5 B) circuit means, for connecting the recorder to a(B) first article sensing means positioned at a point source ofelectricity and having between said chute portions and normally opera-(1) a normally open second switch, tive 'to close one of said firstswitches to prepare (C) first sensing means comprising; said circuit foroperating said article ejecting appa- (1) a first radiant energy source,ratus, and responsive to the sensing of an article (2) la first radiantenergy sensing device, passing through the chute to eflect actuation ofan (3) means for directing a radiant energy beam associated device; andfrom said first source to impinge upon said (C) second sensing meansbetween said one chute first sensing device to produce anelect-ricaloutportion and said first sensing means normally closputtherefrom, and ing a second of said first switches to render said (4)means responsive to said output to effect clocontrol circuit operable,but effective in the pressure of one of said first switches, andresponence of material placed in the chute to prevent the sive tointerruption of said radiant energy beam article from passing throughsaid first sensing means by an article passing through the chute to openafter being ejected into said chute, thus to open said one of said firstswitches to inactivate said second switch to render the said ejectingappasaid article ejecting apparatus, and to close said tratus inoperableuntil the material is removed; normally open second switch in saidrecorder (*D) said second sensing means having means to delay circuitthus to actuate said recorder; and

its operation for a period of time long enough nor- (D) second sensingmeans in said chute between said mally to permit the said article topass thereby one portion and said first sensing means comprising,without rendering said apparatus inoperable. (1) ond rad ant energysource, 3. An electrical circuit according to claim 2 wherein (2) asecond radiant energy sensing device, and said second sensing meanscomprises: (3) means for directing a second radiant energy (A) at leastone radiant energy source, beam from said source to impinge upon said(B) a radiant energy sensing device, second sensing device to produce anelectrical (C) means for directing a beam of radiant energy outputtherefrom, and

across said chute from said source to said sensing (4) m ans responsiveto said output to close andevice to produce an electrical output fromthe latter, th r of aid first switches and responsive to and theblocking of said second radiant energy ibearn (D) means responsive tothe said electrical output in y jamming m'atefial in Said Qhute to pSaid one mode of operation to close said second of said first Switch and111115 Pfevfili p Said first switches in said circuit to render saidarticle ejecting apparatus operable, and in another mode anticleejecting apparatus until said material is removed.

of operation to open said second switch in response to the blocking ofsaid beam firom said sensing device thus to render said article ejectingapparatus inoperable.

4. An electrical circuit according to claim -2 wherein 6. An electricalcontrol circuit for article ejecting and handling apparatus cyclicallyoperable to eject an article into and through a chute from one portionto another and to make a record thereof by a recorder, comprising:

(A) means for connecting said ejecting apparatus to said second sensingmeans comprises:

(A) a plurality of radiant energy sources;

a source of electricity, comprising, (1) an electrical conductor,

(B) means for energizing said sources; (2) a plurality of first switchesin series in said (C) a plurality of radiant energy sensing devices;fionduct'or OPE-Table Closfid Condition P (D) means f r directing be ofdi energy fulfillment of certain pee-operative conditions,

across said chute from ones of said sources to cora d responding ones ofsaid sensing devices .to produce a normally p Switch for eifwiing anelectrical output from said sensing devices; and 59 fill-Z11 dvsure ofsa d c rcuit to actuate said ar- (E) means connecting said sensingdevices in series tide electing mgalls 0 intmduce an art e into circuitwith, said chute,

(1) amplifying means, and (B) circuit means for connecting said recorderto a (2) relay means operable in response to said mm electricity andhaving electrical output to close said second of said Ya n rmally opensecond switch; first switches thus to render said control cirfirst rticlSens ng means comprising; cuit operable, and to open said second switchamp, to render said control circuit inoperable if one a p i sistor, ormore of said nadiant energy beams is blocked means for directing a ghtbeam from said or otherwise prevented from impingement upon p to impingeuP011 said PhO'EO-IeSI'StOI its corresponding sensing device for apredeter- ProdllCe Wwk fileClTiCal Output CUT-rent theremined period oftime. from, 5. An electrical control circuit for ejecting and :arti- (4)means having a current amplifier and a relay, cle handling apparatuscyclically operable to eject an and responsive to said output current toclose .article into and through .a chute trom one portion to one of saidfirst switches, and responsive to another and to make a record thereofby recorder means, interruption of said beam by an article passi ing;ing through said chute to open said one of (A) means for connecting saidarticle ejecting appasaid first switches, and to close said normallyratus to a source of electricity, comprising, open second switch insaidcircuit means for (1) an electrical conductor,

(2) a plurality of first switches in series in said conductor operableto closed condition upon fulfillment of certain preoperative conditions,andconnecting said recorder to a source of electnicity thus to actuatesaid recorder to make a record of the article; and

(D) second sensing means in said chute between said one portion and saidfirst sensing means comprising,

(1) a plurality of lamps,

(2) a plurality of photo-res stors, and

(3) means. for directing a light beam from each of said lamps upon acor-responding of said photo-resistors thus to produce a weak electricaloutput therefrom, and

(4) means having a current amplifier .and a relay and responsive to saidoutput current to close another of said first switches, and responsiveto blocking of said beam by jamming mate-rial in said chute to open oneof said first switches thus to prevent operation of said articleejecting apparatus until such material is removed.

7. A circuit according to claim 5 and further including:

(A) a further first switch in the circuit between said source ofelectricity and all the other of sa d first switches; and

( B) means-for closing said further first switch whereby said radiantenergy eXciter-s are energized.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein: the print elements in saidrecorder comprise removable charge plates having indicia thereon, andfurther including:

(A) more of said series connected first switches each adapted forclosure by one of a plurality of said printing plates when the platesare in printing posi- 25 tion in the recorder.

10 said housing at one time, and

( B) means responsive to such condition to render the ejecting apparatusinoperative.

References Cited by the Examiner 15 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,875,839 9/32Alexander et al 250223 X 1,938,104 12/33 Jennings 250-223 X 2,171,3628/39 Gulliks en '250-223 20 2,809,297 10/57 Hartwig et a1 250223 X2,916,633 12/59 Stone 'et al. 250223 2,994,784 8/61 White et a1; 250-2233,011,101 11/61 Boyce 250223 X RALPH G. NILSON, Primary" Examiner.

ARCHIE 1R. 'BOROHELT, Examiner.

1. IN ELECTRICALLY OPERATIVE ARTICLE EJECTING AND HANDLING APPARATUSOPERABLE TO EJECT AN ARTICLE INTO AND TO PASS IT THROUGH A CHUTE FROMONE POINT TO ANOTHER: (A) AN ELECTRICAL CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR CONNECTINGSAID APPARATSUS TO A SOURCE OF ELECTRICALLY; (B) A FIRST SENSING MEANSPOSITIONED BETWEEN SAID POINTS IN THE CHUTE TO SENSE AN ARTICLE AS ITPASSES ALONG ITS PATH OF MOVEMENT THROUGH THE CHUTE AND RESPONSIVETHERETO TO ACTUATE ASSOCIATED APPARATUS; AND (C) A SECOND SENSING MEANSPOSITIONED BETWEEN SAID ONE POINT AND SAID FIRST SENSING MEANS TO SENSEMATERIAL PLACED IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID ARTICLE TO PREVENT THEARTICLE FROM PASSING THROUGH SAID FIRST SENSING MEANS DURING A CYCLE OFOPERATION, AND OPERABLE IN THE PRESENCE OF SUCH MATERIAL IN THE PATH OFMOVEMENT TO RENDER THE ARTICLE HANDLING APPARATUS INOPERABLE UNTIL THEMATERIAL IS REMOVED;